Class Requirements
Diagnostic Essay
Your first essay this semester will be a short 3-5 page diagnostic essay designed to gauge your creative and critical thinking skills and abilities and to provide me with a sense of your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. This essay will not be formally graded; you will simply receive full credit for submitting a completed essay on the assigned due date. Failure to submit the essay on time and completed will result in no points for the Diagnostic Essay.
Three Essays
For each of your essays, with the exception of your research essay, you must complete 4-6 pages, typed and double-spaced pages; the research essay will require 8-10 typed and double-spaced pages. More specifically, your formal essay writing will require you to:
- Offer a well-reasoned and properly justified and supported critical analysis essay of a game of your choice.
- Develop a comparative and critical analysis essay of a novel.
- Advance a well-reasoned and well-supported argument with credible, relevant sources in the form of a research essay.
Final Exam
Your final exam will be your Critical Research essay which will be handed in during the designated Final Exam time for the course.
Journal Questions
Brief typed responses to the readings that address the questions asked by the Journal prompt. These journal responses will serve as idea formulation and note taking that will be used for the final essay.
Participation
Participation is based on attendance, your level of involvement in class discussion and activities, and your completion of in-class writing exercises. Detailed and constructive commentary on your classmate’s writing is crucial.
Grades
You will receive a letter grade based on the final point breakdown which is as follows:
Diagnostic Essay: 50 pts
Critical Analysis Essay: 100 pts
Comparative Essay: 100 pts
Academic Research Essay: 150 pts
Abstract & Annotated Bibliography: 100 pts
Journal Questions: 100 pts
Participation/Attendance: 100 pts
Total Points Possible: 700 pts
Grade Scale and Standards:
A 93-100% C+ 77-79%
A- 90-92% C 73-76%
B+ 87-89% C- 70-73%
B 83-86% D 61-69%
B- 80-82% F less than 60%
A: Shows superior writing skills and a definite trend toward improving writing through significant revision. Very strong in all major areas: content, organization, style, and grammar and mechanics. All required work is apparent and well-organized. Class attendance and participation is exceptional.
B: Shows above average writing skills and improvement through revision. Strong in all major areas with some minor flaws. All required work is apparent and well-organized. Class attendance and participation is above average.
C: Shows average writing skills and some improvement through revision. Average in all major areas with some definite flaws. Most required work is apparent. Class attendance and participation are average.
D: Shows below average writing skills and very little if any improvement through revision. Writing is below average in all major areas with numerous flaws. Missing a good portion of required work. Class attendance and participation is below average.
F: Shows inferior writing skills and a serious lack of effort. Serious problems in major areas. Missing most required work. Serious problems with class attendance and participation.
Classroom Behavior, Boundaries, and Expectations
Please remain respectful of the instructor, your fellow classmates, and yourself at all times. There may be debate and discussion on a wide range of topics in this course. You may disagree with others at times. In fact, these things contribute significantly to learning. However, you must remain respectful, considerate, open-minded, and non-discriminatory at all times.
Any rude or disruptive behavior will NOT be tolerated.
AI
AI tools may be used for this course but only in a planning and error checking capacity. It is not to be used as a "generative" tool that takes the place of your own "voice" and writing.